Fresnillo

Fresnillo is a mid-size city in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. The city boasts a colonial downtown core, several cultural traditions with lively local festivals, one of the largest silver mines in the world, and is an important transportation hub for central Zacatecas.

Understand
The town's modern history begins in 1551 when Spanish explorer Diego Fernández de Proaño scouted areas in Zacatecas in search of mineral wealth. In the area that would become Fresnillo he discovered a large hill with signs of silver and other valuable ores. He named the hill Cerro de Proaño. Although the viceroy was unexcited about reports of mineral finds in Fresnillo, Diego Fernández de Proaño believed the hill would hold immense reserves and he established the mine there. The community grew with the up-and-down success of the mine, which endured setbacks such as native Indian attacks in its early years, financial troubles in the colonial era, and political indifference by the Spanish crown as to its fate.

In the modern era, Fresnillo has been severely affected by violence surrounding drug cartel activity in the state.

Get in
The nearest airport with commercial flights is Zacatecas International Airport, about 1 hour by taxi from Fresnillo.

By bus
From the main bus station in Zacatecas, Chihuahenses buses leave every 30 minutes for Fresnillo. Prices for the 55-minute trip start at M$200 (Feb 2024).



By car
From Zacatecas, Fresnillo is 45 minutes northwest on federal highway MEX-45.

Get around
Taxi is the best way to get around in Fresnillo, but for safety reasons, call a taxi to your home or hotel and have someone take note of its plates and ID number. A growing number of mototaxis are seen in Fresnillo, though rather than custom built vehicles, they are often trailers attached to a regular motorcycle.

See






Buy
Fresnillo has three large traditional marketplaces, the traditional main market in the city center, one on the east side of town and one on the west side of town. There are also several tianguis (like a farmers market that takes place only on certain days of the week).







Connect
Fresnillo is a well-connected city with fast internet in most businesses, including hotels and restaurants. Cell coverage is good throughout the city with 5G coverage in almost all the city. Coverage becomes spotty or can drop if you get into rural areas outside the core city.

Go next

 * Zacatecas
 * Sombrerete
 * Sierra de Organos National Park
 * Guadalupe (Zacatecas)